axes stroke in unison
we make the big trees fall
chains make our ankles bleed
sweat make us strong
sun beats down on steel and wood
under watchful sights of guns
in the shadows we clear this land
to pay for what we've done

talk to me
talk to me
talk to me
in this prisoner's jungle
talk to me
talk to me
i am part of the human race
talk to me
talk to me
talk to me
in the heart of darkness
talk to me
talk to me
i have a human face

under a darkening sky
i feel the dirt beneath my feet
i smell the flesh of treed
i see the whites of no eyes
two different rhythms beat
in my hands and in my head
there's no escaping
from a chaingang or from yourself

talk to me
in this prisoner's jungle
talk to me
i am part of the human race
talk to me
in the heart of darkness
talk to me
i have a human face

i have a photograph
the one who once i loved
her eyes could wake my soul
like the morning sun
my tears mingle with sweat and blood
swinging this axe
breaking my back
every day i think of her
and wish a crime could be undone

talk to me
in this prisoner's jungle
talk to me
i am part of the human race
talk to me
in the heart of darkness
talk to me
i have a human face

From Tribal Opera
Back to the Mark Heard Lyric Project